International. The new mining operation represents a $93 million investment that will create approximately 50 new jobs in the three-county area.
The Chemours Company, a global chemical company in the market for titanium technologies, thermal and specialty solutions and advanced performance materials, announced that it has begun commissioning work to test the operational aspects of the new mine: Trail Ridge South.
It is expected to be launched by the end of this year. The expansion of its mining operations will allow Chemours, the only domestic producer of titanium and zirconium ores and one of only two domestic producers of rare earth minerals, to have additional access to these high-quality concentrated deposits used to produce Chemours Ti-Pure, a brand of titanium dioxide (TiO₂).
"The commissioning of our new Trail Ridge South mine is much more than an operational milestone: it represents a major victory for our customers, the community and our country," said Chemours Co-Director of Mineral Operations Jody Sciance.
"This secure supply of domestic minerals means more tons of TiO₂ for our pigment customers, more jobs for Clay County residents, and access to critical materials identified by the U.S. Department of the Interior as vital to our nation's security and economic prosperity, all with minimal impact on our local environment." Sciance added.
"We are extremely proud to expand our footprint in Florida and look forward to partnering with this community for years to come."
Clay County Economic Development Corporation President Crawford Powell said, "We are proud to support quality employers like Chemours, who provide high-quality, high-wage jobs for our community while doing this essential work. We are proud to have Chemours as a partner in our community."
Clay County and the surrounding region is a key national source of critical minerals that are used for aerospace and defense applications due to their light weight and high strength.
They are also used in high-tech magnets and electronic components that enable clean energy and an evolving digital economy, and for coatings, plastics and laminates critical to infrastructure, automotive and energy applications.
The facility will incorporate mobile mining units (MMUs) that address environmental concerns with traditional dredging mining. MMUs allow the site to have much lower emissions, reduced dust levels, and greater safety by eliminating conventional transport trucks.
In addition, the Trail Ridge South facility will recycle 98% of the water used in the manufacturing process, providing sustainable solutions while delivering on the company's commitment to processing minerals.
Trail Ridge South's process water and water treatment ponds are all built above ground, with approximately 39 million gallons of storage capacity.
